“I would say as a Backpack toting computer bag the Brain Bag Brain cell combo is a champ as a laptop carrying bag. It can pretty much carry anything you can think to lug around, 2 powerbooks, camera equipment what ever you can throw in it. It has top notch construction and looks to match. The Brain Bag fills that important niche as a computer bag carry all that doesn’t scream computer bag and frees your hands while in an airport or traversing the street or the woods. Give this bag an A plus rating for durability, design form and function it is worth every penny you spend on it.” Read the full review.

Check out the new ThinkMac.net review of the Brain Bag backpack, Freudian Slip accessory sleeve, Snake Charmer organizer pouch and Brain Cell laptop case. They liked the bags a lot, but offered some good feedback and suggestions, too.

Excerpt:

“Price wise, I think for the average person looking for a bag, they are looking to spend $50 – $70. The Brain Bag is double that, and if you want to safely carry a laptop computer, you need to add on some sort of sleeve, which will quickly top your purchase price at around $200. People looking on the low end price spectrum are looking for disposable East Pack style bags. Honestly, have you ever sent in your backpack for repair?

I will say this.. if you are seriously looking for a bag you don’t want to replace every year or two, this would be a super choice. I can imagine these bags are going to last for years to come. All of the bags come in a nice selection of colors – nothing tawdry, but sporting muted colors, that would look great on the local trails, or in a business meeting.”

Do you agree or disagree with this review? You’re always welcome to post your thoughts and reviews of our products on our forums.

Be sure to check out Rainy Day Magazine’s “Tom Bihn Aeronaut FirstLook” by Wan Chi Lau. The article features excellent detailed photographs of some of the features that make this bag so great. Of the Aeronaut Wan writes:
“Like the description on the Tom Bihn site says…”It is hard to categorize this bag: Is it soft luggage? A duffel bag? Or a backpack?”

The great thing is, it can be all of those, AND it is sized to fit in the overhead bin of an airplane.”

If you’re interested in an Aeronaut, order soon — we are sold out of all colors but Black and Steel and stock on those is limited. Colors Crimson and Kiwi are available for backorder now with a shipping date of late July.

The Cafe Bag (available in sizes Small, Medium, and Large) is featured today in the Buying Time column at MSN.

Buying Time columnist Terri Goldberg writes of the Cafe Bag:
“My personal favorite is the Cafe Bag. The quality of the simple rectangular sac is not only phenomenal but it also rests on the shoulder and hip in just the right place.”

Bruce Eaton of OhGizmo! recently reviewed the Super Ego. He really liked it! Below is a brief excerpt of the review, but be sure to go to OhGizmo! to read the full review because Bruce took pictures of the inside of the Super Ego that will give you a good idea of how much gear it can hold.

Excerpt: “The Super Ego, from Tom Bihn, is in my opinion, one of the best laptop bags around. The bag itself, with the Brain Cell insert (a hard plastic-lined laptop suspension sleeve system) will provide the protection that only a safe provides for money.”

OhGizmo! Review of the Super Ego

Imago Metrics has posted the first external review of the Aeronaut.

“The Tom Bihn Aeronaut takes on the challenge of offering an innovative -user and task focused carry-on bag that takes cues from the timeless cargo bags, but softens the typical ‘boxy’outlines with aerodynamic curves instead. As airlines strive to penalize customers with fines for oversized and overweight carry-on’s the Aeronaut is the best solution that combines maximum volume with durability, styling and user comfort. This is the Jenny Craig© of overhead compartment bags. In true Tom Bihn style- form and function are evenly matched. Ergonomic, flexible and user accommodating- the Aeronaut is sure to make your next journey a pleasure.” Read the full review.

ProductDose.com has named our Empire Builder briefcase number eight in their list of the Top Ten Coolest Laptop Bags, and we definitely agree — it’s one of the coolest laptop bags out there. It’s also one of our most popular bags — so popular that we are almost completely sold out of it in every color (we have one Black/Steel/Steel Empire Builder left as I’m typing this.) But don’t worry — the Empire Builder will be back in-stock in early May, just a month away, and it’s worth the wait.

You may remember from previous posts the detailed evaluations of the Brain Bag, Super Ego, and Buzz bags preformed by Imago Metrics. In those evaluations, Imago Metrics used a variety of methods to test the bags, including their famous 10 minute shower test to see how water-resistant each bag was (each Tom Bihn bag passed with flying colors — no water was found inside the bags.) Their reviews also featured detailed pictures that showed the pockets and interiors of the bags.

Imago Metrics is now in the process of evaluating the Aeronaut, our new maximum carry-on bag. They sent us their initial thoughts on the bag, excerpts of which are included below:

- Drop dead gorgeous lines. Finally a sleek, ergonomic and practical carry-on that makes sense.

- I forgot there are backpack straps! Deployed them quickly. They tuck away very seamlessly thanks to the zipper closure. Backpack comfort is very good – the padding on the spine-facing side of the Aeronaut gives it a good feel

- Seamed zippers open and close effortlessly. The pull tabs have generous holes in them for locks.

- Where do I put my drink bottle? I was about to gripe about the lack of a bottle pouch- when it hit me. One of the ends has a diagonally oriented zipper pocket that would easily accommodate an 16oz bottle or 3 juice boxes! I tested it and indeed- a 16oz cylindrical bottle or 3, 4oz juice boxes fit perfectly if the host compartment beneath isn’t over packed!

“Flimsy little bags, or minimalist bags are not for me. When my PowerBook and I travel, we take a lot of accessories with us, such as, power cords, a cable modem, cables, our iPod and its charger, our digital camera and its charger, iPod speakers, notebooks, an address book, a day planner, pens, and a big bottle of spring water. The only bag we use is Tom Bihn’s Brain Bag, a cavernous backpack with enough pockets and pouches to hold my portable office.” — FitnessTravelGear.com

Check out this great review of our Smart Alec backpack, Monolith laptop case and Cafe Bag by Mary Caijio, wife of Typical Mac User Podcast host Victor Cajiao. Mary’s review of our bags marks the first time she has podcasted. She sounds like a natural to us!

You can listen to the review here: Typical Mac User Podcast: Tom Bihn Review or read the text of the review after the break. Below: A picture of Mary with her Smart Alec on a recent vacation. She’s wearing one of our “Portable Culture” t-shirts, too.

Text of Mary’s Podcast Review of the Smart Alec, Monolith and Cafe Bags:

Hi, this is Mary. I’m Victor’s typical geek wife and Victor has talked me into contributing. I’ve found the perfect way with Tom Bihn.com. They have awesome bags and I love bags. Check out Tom Bihn.com for some nice options. I’ve had the chance to use their Smart Alec backpack with the Monolith case for my G4 PowerBook as well using their large messenger bag. I am very impressed.

I have been using a rolling briefcase for my PowerBook, but every time the wheels hit an imperfection BAM! my computer was getting some abuse it didn’t need. I was looking for some improvement without any “heft” factor since I have to schlep my way from the parking lot all the way across campus to my classroom. Mind you, I’m one of those who has an issue with purses and bags—I love them and collect them. A most satisfying evening on the internet to me is one spent pursuing “purse porn” . . . you know, viewing those websites with outrageously-priced bags and frequently pressing that “SHOP NOW” button and typing in my credit card number—- so a computer bag that would make me happy was one that would cradle my G4 and also feed my purse habit.

The Tom Bihn.com site is easy to use. I did have some trouble figuring out which bag was best for my G4, so I got some help. Darcy at Tom Bihn was very accommodating. After she lead me in the right direction, I saw that everything was there to find the right fit on my own. One feature that might appeal specifically to women is a proportion guide. I like sites that have this feature, which sort of “tries the bag on” a model or drawing so that the buyer knows how small or large the bag will appear.

I used the Tom Bihn Smart Alec at first to take my computer back and forth to work. It doesn’t hold a whole lot of other papers along with the computer, but I don’t want to carry around a ton of stuff. I can’t get by with just the college backpack look—I still need to haul a lunch bag and the right purse for the moment. The Smart Alec backpack straps are very adjustable, padded, and very comfortable, despite the weight of my computer. I felt fine using both shoulder straps or just one. I like the number of slots inside for pens and the cool side opening pockets for my power supply, mouse and other computer essentials. The zippers and pulls are smooth and nicely waterproofed. The best part of the backpack is the awesome Monolith, which fits my G4 perfectly and holds it securely inside the bag so that it sort of “floats” instead of allowing the computer to be jostled or bumped as the backpack is picked up or put down. I also have Tom Bihn’s TerraGrip Strap to attach to the Monolith bag, when I need to carry just my G4. I definitely recommend that both the strap and the Monolith with the Smart Alec to achieve a complete package.

Sure the Smart Alec backpack works great for getting my computer around, but did it get noticed? Any purseaholic knows that this is the true test. My answer is yes! Other women commented favorably about the color (my bag is kiwi and black). The unique shape also gets favorable and frequent comments. Heck, I don’t care WHY my friends notice my bag, I’m just glad that they do! One of my peers told me that she preferred the “more girly” shoulder bag for her laptop. Another told me that she would prefer a rolling bag. Having tried both of this options for my computer, I prefer the Tom Bihn. Both of the other computer bags have to be lifted, after all. I don’t have to lift my backpack to get it into and out of my car—it’s already at the right level. That’s a big deal with us gals.

How does the Smart Alec work outside of the work place? I just got back from a wonderful winter cruise and the backpack held up fabulously! It was great as a carry on during my flights, great during Carnival in Cozumel, great as a beach bag in Honduras, and great as a camera gear bag in Belize. The factor that pleased me the most was how nice it looked despite all my tough treatment. In fact, it did get some dirt and marks on it, but I used one of those disposable stain remover sheets on it and it cleaned up perfectly. It still looks as nice as the day I got it. Love that.

The Tom Bihn Messenger Bag has that same amazing fabric that works so well with the Smart Alec. The Messenger Bag worked for me when I wanted a bit more than what a purse might hold—say, my iPod, a book and my camera. That’s exactly how I used it on my vacation. I have a purple and kiwi bag that is a breeze to grab, pack and go. The over the shoulder strap is easy and adjustable as is the black clip closure. There are some pen slots and side pockets too. I was set to go hours around the ship without returning to my cabin. I went from the dining room, the deck, exercising to shopping with all the gear I wanted. And it’s so cute!

So my bottom line is—check out the Tom Bihn. com site and give them a try. Contact me at typicalgeekwife@gmail.com. Back to you, Victor.